Rays notes: Odorizzi already feeling at home

RHP Jake Odorizzi was having his worst outing of the season May 15 for Triple-A Durham, so when he was pulled with one out in the sixth inning, he figured it was because Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo wanted a fresh arm in the game.

He later learned the hook came from the top of the Rays organization because LHP David Price left his start that same night because of a strained left triceps.

Odorizzi, 4-0 with a 3.83 ERA in eight starts for the Bulls, will be added to the Rays' roster today and is set to make his third major-league start this afternoon in the opener of a three-game series in Toronto.

Manager Joe Maddon said the plan for now is to have Odorizzi take Price's starts until the left-hander returns from the disabled list.

Odorizzi was acquired from the Royals in December along with OF Wil Myers in the trade that sent RHPs James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City. He made two starts in September for the Royals, both against the Indians, and thinks that experience will serve him well today.

“I think I really benefited from last year,'' Odorizzi said. “It would have been a lot bigger experience, obviously, had it been a new team and first time up. But those days were crucial last year. I feel a lot more at home having been up once already, and now being here, especially with this team, I got to fit in really well in the spring, and I'm happy to be here with all the guys again.”

Maddon said Odorizzi didn't have the most impressive spring, but he liked how the youngster handled himself in Port Charlotte and liked the reports he received on the right-hander's work at Durham.

“I thought he had a good way about him,” Maddon said. “We didn't get to see all his best stuff, but talking to the people who have seen him in the minor leagues, the scouts, it's there, so you just got to trust that.”

Upon further review Sunday's game was delayed for several minutes during the sixth inning when both managers argued the ruling that RF Matt Joyce's line drive off the base of the right-field foul pole was a double.

Maddon thought the ball struck the pole for a home run. Orioles manager Buck Showalter argued the ball was foul.

The umpires talked with Maddon, huddled, then split into pairs and talked to both managers before finally checking the replay.

Maddon wanted them to review the call to see if it was a double or a home run. But he didn't want the umpires to determine the ball was foul.

“It could have been a home run, so I had to argue the point whether it was a home run or not,” he said. “But I did not want it to become a foul ball. That would have been really bad. That was my concern.”

The replay showed the ball was a home run.

“If we go to replay, whatever we ascertain from the replay is the call we make,” crew chief Gerry Davis told a pool reporter. “So a foul ball is a possibility in that situation. That was the delay because that's what I was telling (Maddon), that if we go to replay, that's possibly what could happen.”

Third place The Rays caught the Orioles for third place with the sweep.

“I think it is important because you got to get over each team that's in front of you before you get back to the top,” Maddon said.

Doing it by beating the Orioles was equally as important, Maddon said.

“It indicates how much better we've been playing,” he said.

Noteworthy 3B Evan Longoria extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. He has reached safely in a major league-high 41 games this season. … LHP Jeff Beliveau, recalled before the game to add a fresh arm to the bullpen, did not play and was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the game. … LHP Alex Torres is the third pitcher in team history to pitch four or more scoreless innings of relief. He joined Esteban Yan (five innings against Minnesota on April 13, 1998) and Tanyon Sturtze (four innings against Atlanta on July 18, 2000). … LHP Matt Moore is 5-0 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts against the AL East this season.